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Posts Tagged: postal skimmers

The United States Postal Inspection Service is investigating reports that fraudsters are installing skimming devices on automated stamp vending machines at Post Office locations across the United States, KrebsOnSecurity has learned.

USPS Automated Postal Center (APC) self-service stamp kiosk.

Earlier this month, I began hearing from sources in the banking industry about fraudulent debit card activity on cards that were all recently used at self-service stamp vending machines at U.S. Post Offices in at least 13 states and the District of Columbia.

Asked about the activity, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed that the agency has an open investigation into the matter, but declined to elaborate further beyond offering tips for consumers to help spot skimming devices that may be affixed to automated stamp vending machines at post office locations.

In an emailed response, the USPIS said it is urging USPS employees to visually inspect the Automated Postal Center (APC) machines multiple times during the day, and that it is asking customers to do the same.

“USPIS recommends customers who use the APC machine should personally visually inspect the machine prior to use,” the USPIS said. “Look for any type of plastic piece that looks like it has been slid over the actual credit card reader. Look for any other type of marking on the machine that looks as though it has been applied by a third-party.”

The USPIS is asking customers who see something that appears to be out of place on the machines to notify the local post office supervisor immediately.

The USPIS declined to answer additional questions about the investigation, such as when the fraud first began. But according to sources at two separate financial institutions whose customers have been impacted by the activity, the fraud began in late November 2013, and has been traced back to self-service stamp vending machines in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Continue reading →